BBC News highlights impact of soaring costs on pig farms

The devastating impact of rising costs of production on farms, including pig businesses, was highlighted on the BBC New at Ten programme yesterday. 

The segment explained how the unprecedented price rises in recent months of fuel, animal feed, fertiliser and energy, in part due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, is putting financial pressure on farmers who cannot pass those costs on to supermarkets and other customers.

It explained how some cereal grower are switching from growing wheat for bread to wheat for animal feed, as it uses less fertiliser.

The programme also featured Oxfordshire pig farmer Tom Allen, whose pig business is losing £30-£40 on every pig they produce, on the back of a doubling of the cost of animal feed double over the last year. He has reduced his pig herd by a third, and has had to make a number of people redundant.

"The industry as a whole is losing 20 to 25% of producers, mainly independent producers like myself. What this means is there will be a shortage of pig meat coming quite quickly," he said. 

NFU president Minette Batters said agriculture was on an 'uncertain road' and food security should be a priority for Government. 

You can view the feature HERE

You can read a more in-depth article on the BBC website HERE